Courses

What Course is For You?

So which course is for you? Many options are available to ensure the perfect fit. Generally, there are three different reasons one might take sailing lessons: you intend on purchasing a sailboat, you would like to rent or charter sailboats in the future, or you are just looking to try something new. The courses offered try to capture each of these needs.

1. You would like to be able to better operate a vessel that you own or want to buy.

The size of the boat you own or want to buy will be a factor in deciding what course you will need to take. Generally, sailboats are categorized as daysailers or cruisers. Daysailers are boats without overnight accommodations, similar to the Rainbow 24 used in our basic courses. Look for courses under “Course Modules” and “Basic Courses”. Cruisers are boats with the amenities necessary to live on-board. The cruising courses cover everything you need to become an expert. If you are starting from scratch, we recommend you take some basic courses to learn the fundamentals.

2. You would like to rent or charter sailboats.

You’ve seen those beautiful pictures in the sailing magazines – families and friends cruising the Caribbean waters, full sails, clear skies, and endless horizons. In order to charter a boat in most cruising destinations, you will need an American Sailing Association (ASA) level 104 certification or its equivalent. The prerequisites for the ASA 104 certification are ASA 101 and 103 certifications. You can complete the ASA 101 certification through either our “Course Modules” or “Keelboat Courses”. The differences between the two are described below. There are also multiple ways to get the ASA 103 and 104 certifications. These courses are highlighted in “Cruising Courses”. Just remember to look for the ASA certification levels when exploring the course options.

3. You are looking for a great experience on the water.

We can absolutely make that happen, too. Check out our Recreation tab and see what we have to offer! From two-hour sails to weekend getaways, we will show you why people are so passionate about sailing. But be warned: once you experience sailing, you may be hooked!

Course Categories

Basic Courses

Our keelboat courses are taught on Rainbow 24s. These courses consist of two or more modules grouped together at a discounted price. In the two-day course, the Basic Sailor, you learn basic operational skills. In the three-day course, the Basic Sailor Certified, we are able to test you for your American Sailing Association Basic Keelboat certification. Tack on two more days and you will gain boat handling confidence and sail trim proficiency. The skills learned in these classes are easily applicable to a wide variety of boats and styles of sailing. Additionally, you will find an accelerated version of modules A-C to get you certified in just one weekend! Yes, we can teach you to sail and certify you in just one weekend (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday).

Cruising Courses

Cruising Courses are taught with our Beneteau 37 auxiliary cruisers. These courses are perfect for people who are preparing for vacation on a chartered boat, own their own cruising boat but want to learn how to use it better, or people who are considering getting into cruising. Generally, the courses teach the skills you need to spend extended periods of time on a cruising boat. Although each course will focus on different aspects, all sailing courses remain interdisciplinary.